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August 2025 Newsletter

Van Buren Housing Authority Community News August 2025.

Reminders:

  • Office hours are Monday - Thursday 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM
  • For AFTER-HOURS EMERGENCIES call 479.474.6901 (follow the promts)

Upcoming Events:

  • August 7: First-Class to Class Back to School Celebration 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
  • August 13: First Day of School Van Buren School District

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Letter From the Director

Dear Residents,

it's Back to School time! Time for new beginnings and a fresh start for our Community Kids. We are very excited to be in the position this year to support our youth with our Good Grades program. We hope that you will encourage your kids to get involved this year. There are many great perks to this program, ultimately leading to the opportunity for your child to have a successful school year!

As always, parents, we know this time of year is bittersweet for you. It's always beautiful to watch our kids grow into their potential... but it is still always a little sad, too. We hope that you will take advantage of the support of your friends and neighbors and our Community Center.

This time of year gets really, really busy for us at VBHA! Larissa is already beginning to put together our Fall Festival for 2025! Last year was amazing and I believe this year will be even better for our families. If you can volunteer, please do. We ended up being a bit short last year and so some of the games weren't able to be utilized. Lets work together and make sure that we are doing great things for both our families and for our Community! I am so incredibly proud of US and I want to continue to see all of us growing and moving forward.

Lastly, we are beginning to see progress on repairing the tornado-damaged units. This has felt like such a long road and I know many of you have been worried about our families who aren't "home." Let me assure you, we are working so hard on this and we will have your neighbors back home as soon as possible. Until then, let's keep loving each other and being great neighbors.

Sincerely,
Dayna Cochran

Members of Girl Scouts Troop 4244 standing in front of a table of donations..

Girl Scout Troop 4244 Steps Up to Help After Tornado

Van Buren Housing Authority wishes to extend our heartfelt thanks to Girl Scout Troop 4244 for their generous donation of shelf-stable food items to our community's emergency food pantry. The troop held a food drive in June and, in an inspiring show of support, delivered the collected items to our Community Center pantry just weeks after the devastating tornado on June 6.

Their timing couldn't have been better. With many families still recovering from storm damage and disruptions, Troop 4244's donation helped restock our emergency shelves and ensured that neighbors in need had access to essential supplies.

These young leaders demonstrated the true spirit of community - stepping in, showing up, and lending a hand when it was needed most. We are deeply grateful for their compassion and hard work.

Thank you, Troop 4244, for making a difference. You've not only brought food to our shelves but hope to our hearts.

Love Your Lease: Changes in Income or Family Size

Part I: Public Housing Residential Lease Agreement

G. Terms and Conditions

4. Rent will not change during the period between regular reexaminations, UNLESS during such period:

d) The household income or family composition has changed. The Tenant must report in writing, any and all change in income or family composition within ten (10) calendar days of such change, and rent will be adjusted in accordance with the current PHA Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy and HUD regulations. Failure to report within this timeframe may result in a retroactive rent charge.

If your household income or family size changes, you must report it in writing within 10 calendar days. Your rent may be adjusted based on the new information. If you don't report the change on time, you could be charged extra rent retroactively.

Keeping Cool This Summer

As temperatures rise this summer, please remember that HVAC unit scan only do so much during extreme heat. Overworking your AC by setting it too low won't cool your home faster - it can actually strain the system and lead to maintenance issues. To stay comfortable, set your thermostat to a reasonable temperature (around 75-78°F), keep blinds or curtains closed during the hottest parts of the day, use fans to circulate air, and limit heat-producing activities like cooking during peak hours. Staying mindful helps everyone stay cool and keeps our systems running smoothly!

Need Community Service Hours?
Come by the Community Center! We offer many opportunities for you to volunteer. We also have resources to connect you with other organizations and programs to help you meet your community service requirements.

After-School Tutoring
Does your student need a little extra help with homework? After-school tutoring is available at the Community Center. For more information or to sign up, call Larissa at 479.474.4407 or come by 218 S. 17th.

Party/Meeting Room Space Available!

Need space for for a birthday party or group meeting? The VBHA Community Center is available for parties and meetings. Contact Larissa at 479.474.4407 for details.